Friday, November 02, 2007

MU football advance for Saturday Press/My prediction at bottom

When the discussion this week has been about Monmouth University tailback David Sinsi, the numbers most often likely to come up have been six and 20.

Six is the NEC record single game total of touchdowns Sinisi scored last week at Central Connecticut State.

Twenty would be the number of games in a row in which the redshirt sophomore will have scored a touchdown if he reaches the end zone Saturday in Loretto, Pa. where the Hawks (2-5, 2-2) visit St. Francis, Pa. (1-6, 1-3) in a Northeast Conference game.

If Sinisi scores Saturday it would extend the nation's longest TD scoring streak to 20.

But the number Sinisi would prefer to concentrate on is three, as in the third victory of the season Monmouth hopes to register in its erratic season.

""Winning is the most important thing to me, personally, and as a team goal,'' Sinisi said. ""That's the most important thing no matter how well I play or anyone else plays.''Sinisi, who has scored 16 of Monmouth's 23 touchdowns, said he tries not to think about the streak. ""It's just on the side,'' he said. ""It is exciting that I've been scoring.

""But I try not to think about it too much and try to focus more on team goals and executing my assignments.''

One of Sinisi's assignments lately has been returning kick offs with an injury that has sidelined regular kick returner Brian Robinson. Sinisi has returned nine for a 25.7 yard average.

""I did it in high school,'' Sinisi said. ""And it's another fun aspect of the game.''

Monmouth boss Kevin Callahan, in his 30th year coaching college football, said he probably has never been involved with a player on his team on this type of a TD surge.

""Certainly not at Monmouth,'' said Callahan. ""I think this is a great thing for Dave. He has a knack for finding the end zone. He has the ability to break tackles and keep himself alive on plays.''

Already the No. 5 all-time rusher in Monmouth history with 1,567 yards, Sinisi is 672 shy of Chris Reed's school record 2,239.

Sinisi has rolled up 813 yards this fall after 754 last year.

""I think he has a great deal more confidence now,'' said Callahan. ""He has a better feel for our offense and understand defenses to a higher degree. I think his vision and anticipation of how things are going to break is a little bit better.''

Despite its record Monmouth retains an outside chance of at least tieing for the NEC regular season title if it wins its last two league games against St. Francis and Nov. 10 vs. Albany (5-3, 3-0).

""We're just taking one day, one game at a time,'' Sinsi said. ""And forget about everything that happened last week.''

On paper Sinsi would appear to have a great shot at scoring Saturday and Monmouth an excellent opportunity to win.

St. Francis is last in the league in scoring defense, giving up 38.9points per game, and in total defense surrendering 422.3 yards per game.

But the Hawks can ill afford to think along those lines. ""We're fighting for our life,''s aid Callahan. ""We've been a struggling team all year.''

Notes: Callahan said back up quarterback Andrew Mandeville (shoulder), a Raritan High School graduate is still out and inside linebacker Matt Sterner (shoulder), Monmouth's leading tackler (43) will not play. Callahan said Joe Cella (Jackson Memorial) will start in Sterner's place.

Free safety Jon Stolarz (neck) is expected to return.

My prediction....

SFPA throws the ball but has virtually no running game so return of Stolarz will help. SFPA is also at the bottom of the NEC in defense which has never been a strong point even in it's better years....

I don't see this as a "trap" game for MU which won't be overlooking SFPA. Only way MU loses this game - in my opinion - is through errors and turnovers. Hard to see SFPA keeping Sinisi out of the end zone..

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